Prime Minister must act on Van Velden’s ERA interference – PSA

September 1, 2025

Source: PSA

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon must take action on Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke Van Velden’s political interference in the Employment Relations Authority, says the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

The call follows media reports today that Attorney-General Judith Collins spoke with Van Velden after the Minister said her four new appointees to the Authority should offer smaller awards to workers and criticised current members for being too generous to wronged workers.

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said it is significant that the Attorney-General has intervened, but given Van Velden’s inadequate response the Prime Minister must now act to uphold Ministerial standards and restore faith in the Employment Relations Authority.

“Brooke Van Velden’s political interference in the Employment Relations Authority is corrosive to the rule of law and undermines workers’ rights to a fair hearing.

“Judith Collins KC is a senior lawyer and would recognise that the comments were totally inappropriate. However, the Minister’s response today is inadequate – she has not admitted she was wrong or apologised.

“Today, the PSA has written to the Prime Minister outlining our concerns. The Minister’s comments breach the Cabinet Manual’s requirements that Ministers respect the independence of statutory bodies.

“The Prime Minister must send a clear message about the standards he expects of his Ministers and make clear that the Employment Relations Authority will follow the law, not the political whims of Ministers,” Fitzsimons said.

MIL OSI

Environment – Palm kernel imports skyrocketing as climate crisis worsens – Greenpeace

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is revealing that new data provided by Stats NZ shows that palm kernel imports for the first six months of 2025 are higher than they have been at any point in the last ten years. Greenpeace says this continues to undermine the ‘grass-fed’ claims made by Fonterra and other New Zealand meat and dairy companies.

Greenpeace spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn says “This is a massive increase in the intensive dairy industry’s use of palm kernel, and it’s no doubt leading to an increase in associated deforestation overseas.”

“Due to worsening and more frequent adverse weather events, New Zealand dairy cows are eating more palm kernel than ever before. The dairy industry is the leading driver of climate change in New Zealand – so unless Fonterra and the intensive dairy industry clean up their act, we are going to see this trend continue.”

Earlier this year, parts of New Zealand were struck by the worst drought in 40 years, which Greenpeace says likely contributed to the increased demand for imported feed.

Palm kernel is a supplementary feed for dairy cows that comes from deforested areas across Southeast Asia. New Zealand is the world’s biggest importer of the feed, importing almost 2 million tonnes of it every year.

The Stats NZ data indicates that for the first six months of 2025, palm kernel imports were up 40% compared to the same time period for 2024.

Deighton-O’Flynn says, “The New Zealand dairy industry led by Fonterra charges a premium for “grass-fed” products – this is completely incompatible with the fact that its cows are eating palm kernel that comes from areas that were once lush rainforests in Southeast Asia.

“It’s clear that Fonterra’s dairy is anything but grass-fed. There are simply too many cows in New Zealand, and there isn’t enough grass to feed them all, so the industry relies on cheap, dirty products like palm kernel.”

Palm kernel has been the subject of significant controversy due to links to rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, an Indonesian Government document revealed that all five of the companies bringing palm kernel into New Zealand were linked to illegal operations in Indonesia.

Additionally, a report by Rainforest Action Network showed that Fonterra’s main palm kernel supplier – Agrifeeds – was linked to illegal operation in the protected rainforest ecosystem highlighted in David Attenborough’s The Secret Lives of Orangutans.

MIL OSI

Change announced for overseas investors

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Coalition parties have agreed that overseas-based investors with a New Zealand investor residence visa will be allowed to buy a house here, to encourage more investment to grow the economy, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.

“The ban on foreigners buying residential housing will remain. However, the Government wants to bring additional investment, skills, ideas and connections to New Zealand, and the Active Investor Plus residency visa allows that.

“It offers residency to a migrant who invests a minimum of $5 million to help grow the economy, passes a good character test, and has acceptable health.

“But, because Active Investor Plus residency visa-holders do not have to be in New Zealand for six months of a year, the foreign buyer ban means some do not meet the threshold for buying a house under the Overseas Investment Act.

“The Government has therefore decided that people with an Active Investor Plus residency visa will be allowed to buy or build one home.

“The minimum value of the house that can be bought or built will be set at $5 million – which equates to less than 1 per cent of New Zealand houses.

“This change navigates a path between those who do not want foreign ownership opened up, and the desire to attract high net worth investors by deepening their connection to our country to help grow the economy.

“There have been more than 300 applications for the Active Investor Plus residency visa since it was re-launched on April 1.

“If all these applications are approved and proceed, it means a potential total minimum investment of $1.8 billion in the New Zealand economy.

“Globally, New Zealand has a deserved reputation as a great place to live and we want to grow our economy. By opening our door just a little to allow significant investors to own a home, we will help attract more of those who want to contribute to the community and country.”

Note:

Individuals who received residence visas under the previous Investor 1 & 2 visas will also be eligible.

The Active Investor Plus categories are:

The Growth category focuses on higher-risk investment, including direct investments in New Zealand businesses. It requires a minimum investment of $5 million for a minimum period of three years.
The Balanced category focuses on mixed investments, with the ability to choose ones that are lower risk. The minimum investment in $10 million over five years

MIL OSI

AIA Singapore engages Singapore Airlines Academy to redefine customer experience excellence and future-proof all its staff

MIL OSI

September 1, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 September 2025 – Leading health insurance provider AIA Singapore today announced that it has engaged Singapore Airlines Academy, the training arm of Singapore Airlines, to develop a curated talent development program for AIA Singapore. This initiative will see AIA Singapore collaborating with Singapore Airlines Academy to create a series of workshops focused on enhancing customer experience (CX) capabilities and building a sustained culture of CX excellence at AIA Singapore.

This pioneering collaboration also strongly supports Singapore’s national agenda on lifelong learning, directly complementing the Budget 2025 announcements that underscore the critical need for continuous upskilling and reskilling to future-proof the nation’s workforce. Through this collaboration, AIA Singapore aims to establish a new industry benchmark for customer experience and talent development within Singapore’s life insurance sector.

AIA Singapore and Singapore Airlines Academy have jointly developed this curriculum, which will roll out to all AIA Singapore employees progressively. Each class is designed for 20 to 25 participants, creating an interactive and dynamic learning atmosphere. This bespoke programme includes a series of workshops focused on customer experience culture transformation, starting with changing mindsets and enhancing our ability to create delightful customer moments.

“At the heart of our customer-centric philosophy, we believe world-class customer experience means anticipating and exceeding expectations, not just meeting them. We want to make things easy for our customers, build lasting trust, and delight them in every interaction,” said Wong Sze Keed, CEO, AIA Singapore.” This landmark collaboration with Singapore Airlines Academy is a powerful testament to that commitment. By fusing their iconic service standards with our customer-first approach, we’re set to transform AIA Singapore’s capabilities and significantly contribute to Singapore’s vision for a highly skilled and adaptable workforce.

This customised programme will equip our people to deliver unparalleled customer journeys, setting a new benchmark for AIA Singapore and across the industry, ensuring AIA Singapore remains at the forefront of service excellence.”

Marking an unprecedented leap in creating world-class customer experiences and empowering AIA staff to exceed customer expectations
This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone, positioning AIA Singapore as the inaugural insurer to collaborate with Singapore Airlines Academy for an extensive and dedicated talent development programme. The bespoke programme, curated in collaboration with Singapore Airlines Academy, will deliver a series of immersive workshops focused on two key pillars:

Customer Experience (CX) Transformation: This foundational, one-day workshop aims to fundamentally shift mindsets, ensuring every interaction embodies AIA’s CX North Star – whereby every customer should be able to say, “I feel cared for by AIA”. Through self-discovery, storytelling, and scenario-driven practice, participants will explore the emotional impact of everyday interactions, understand the role of belief and mindset in service delivery, and commit to actions that uplift customer trust, satisfaction and loyalty. Key modules include understanding the true meaning of customer experience, cultivating personal service beliefs and achieving compliance excellence while simultaneously delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Customer Experience Excellence: Building on the foundational mindset, this follow-up workshop is specifically for customer-facing and servicing roles. It equips participants with practical techniques to handle real-world service interactions with empathy, clarity, and confidence. Participants will learn to identify and respond to customers’ needs, navigate perception-driven challenges, and uphold service excellence even in difficult conversations. The programme introduces actionable frameworks such as the ‘Positive No’ – teaching how to respectfully decline requests while preserving trust – and the ‘4 As of Apology’ for effective and empathetic apologies.
These bespoke workshops are the latest in a series of significant CX initiatives that AIA Singapore has undertaken as part of its ongoing customer centricity pledge, which includes:
AIA+ delivers on the organisation’s promise of customer centricity. This dedicated app and portal seamlessly unifies our customers’ financial, health and wellness needs, offering 24/7 access at their fingertips. Additionally, employee benefits are available on AIA+, giving our corporate customers access to both their personal and corporate insurance on one platform.
Cutting through jargon with our plain English initiative, where we have simplified our AIA HealthShield Gold Max policy documents and ongoing refinements to our customer letters. Our goal is to help customers understand their coverage, identify protection gaps, and improve financial literacy through clear communication.

AIA Singapore’s commitment to upskilling talent
Building on AIA Singapore’s long-term strategy and commitment to its customer-centricity pledge, this initiative also aims to inculcate people development and upskilling as part of its culture. In 2025, AIA Singapore retained its position as a leader in the industry by achieving the largest number of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) members for an unprecedented 11 years. MDRT membership is globally recognised as the gold standard in the life insurance and financial services industry, awarded for exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct, and outstanding customer service.

By embedding structured learning and continuous development into its operations, AIA Singapore is not only raising the bar for talent development, it is also profoundly reinforcing its customer-first philosophy. This ensures every customer interaction is consistently marked by professionalism, empathy, and unparalleled service quality.

Hashtag: #AIASingapore

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Crash causing delays, Paremata Road

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Motorists are being advised to avoid Paremata Road, following a crash near the intersection with State Highway 59 in Porirua.

The single vehicle crash was reported at around 1:15pm.

One person is in a serious condition.

Motorists are asked to please avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Warrant to arrest: Vaea Folau

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of Vaea Tangitau Folau, 33, who has a warrant for his arrest.

Police believe someone may have information on his whereabouts.

Folau is known to frequent the Glen Eden and wider Auckland areas.

Anyone with information is urged not to approach him and instead to call 111 immediately and quote file number 250818/9639.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

Mismatched plates spark Police attention

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

A vehicle caught with mismatched plates has left two people facing a variety of charges.

At about 12.45am, Police observed a Toyota Corolla with two different number plates travelling along Eastdale Road, Avondale.

Auckland City West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Guy Baldwin, says officers confirmed the vehicle was stolen and also allegedly linked to an aggravated robbery in Dargaville.

“Officers signalled for the vehicle to pullover, however it failed to do so.

“It briefly fled before stopping on Eastdale Road where two people exited and attempted to flee on foot.”

Senior Sergeant Baldwin says Police quickly took the pair into custody without further incident.

“We acknowledge the concern incidents like these can cause to the wider community and reiterate our commitment to holding these offenders accountable.

“We will continue to work hard to ensure our community can be safe and feel safe.”

A 58-year-old man will appear in Auckland District Court today charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and aggravated robbery.

A 27-year-old man is facing charges of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

New Zealand’s tyre recycling scheme celebrates 1st anniversary Nearly 4 million tyres recovered for recycling

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: Tyrewise

1 September 2025 – Tyrewise, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first regulated product stewardship scheme for tyres, is celebrating its first year of operation with nearly 4 million end-of-life tyres collected for recycling or repurposing into other useful products and over 5,000 registered partners across the country.

“Tyrewise isn’t just New Zealand’s first regulated product stewardship scheme, it’s also the most successful product stewardship scheme in the country to date,” says Adele Rose, CEO of 3R Group, Tyrewise Scheme Managers.

The scheme has surpassed its targets for tyres collected and processed into tyre-derived materials since it began operating on 1 September last year, Adele says. “That’s encouraging, as it has a target of 80% of tyres recycled and repurposed into other useful products within Aotearoa New Zealand by its fourth year, and over 90% by its sixth year.”

As part of the strategy to develop end markets and support the domestic economy, expressions of interest in funding were recently invited. This attracted over 60 applications across research and development, emerging markets, and community development categories.

“It’s exciting to see such an interest in the fund. A major goal of Tyrewise is to help develop innovative, high-value onshore uses and unlock the value in the circular economy for end-of-life tyres. Tyres are going from being a waste stream to a resource which creates jobs and adds value to the New Zealand economy, rather than being illegally dumped, stockpiled or landfilled,” Adele says.

Mark Gilbert, Chair of Auto Stewardship New Zealand, which governs the Tyrewise scheme, says the success of the scheme comes down in large part to its registered partners. “Those registered partners, the importers, retailers, tyre fitters, transporters, recyclers and public collection sites make up the scheme. Without them doing the mahi, what we have achieved so far wouldn’t be possible, and we thank them for their work thus far and look forward to continuing the momentum,” Mark says.

Tyrewise operates a nationwide collection and recycling system, funded through a Tyre Stewardship Fee which is charged on all new tyres sold in the New Zealand market, replacing previous ad hoc disposal fees. Critically, this has removed the impact of free riders who don’t participate under a voluntary scheme.

It means members of the tyre industry around the country have access to a collection service through a network of registered partner transporters, with retailers retaining end of life tyres from customers for collection. Members of the public can also dispose of up to five tyres at a time for free at public collection sites around the motu.

About Tyrewise

Tyrewise is Aotearoa’s first regulated product stewardship scheme. It minimises the environmental impacts of end-of-life tyres by working with the whole tyre industry to ensure tyres are collected from registered partners so they can be recycled and repurposed into other useful products.

The scheme is accredited by the Ministry for the Environment, and is operated by Auto Stewardship New Zealand, a not-for-profit trust which acts as the Product Stewardship Organisation. It is funded by the tyre stewardship fee charged on imported tyres.

MIL OSI

Asia NZ Foundation – Mekong Dialogue offers a timely forum for enhancing regional stability and cooperation

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono, in partnership with Thailand’s Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS Thailand) will convene the Mekong Dialogue in Vientiane, Laos from 3-5 September, as part of the Foundation’s Track II programme.

The Foundation’s chief executive Suzannah Jessep will lead the New Zealand delegation, which includes senior foreign relations, trade, defence and climate change specialists.

“The Mekong region stands at a critical crossroads. Geopolitical rivalry, rising protectionism, and weakening multilateralism are reshaping the region’s economic, political and security environment. Extreme weather events, natural disasters and resource pressures are adding further complexity,” says Jessep.

“At the same time, Myanmar’s civil conflict, alongside pressing transnational challenges such as trafficking, demand thoughtful, collective responses,” she adds.

The Dialogue is being held in person for the first time since 2019, after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jessep says bringing people back together in person allows relationships to deepen in a way that only face-to-face engagement can achieve. Resuming these dialogues is an opportunity to build on the progress made before the pandemic and ensure cooperation across the region continues to grow stronger.

The delegation will join their regional counterparts in discussions on geopolitical rivalry, the role of ASEAN, the implications of Myanmar’s ongoing crisis, Thai-Cambodia border tensions and broader regional cooperation.

“The Dialogue is an important opportunity for scholars, policymakers and practitioners from both the Mekong region and New Zealand to come together, discuss shared challenges and generate actionable insights and recommendations for governments and regional organisations,” says Jessep.

In addition to the dialogue in Laos, the New Zealand delegation will spend a day in Bangkok participating in local speaking events and holding meetings with a range of experts, officials and other senior contacts.

The Foundation’s director of research and engagement, Dr Julia Macdonald, says: “This is a timely trip, particularly in light of recent events in the region. It provides us with a first-hand view of both the challenges and opportunities, and the chance to share those insights back home when we return.”

Delegation includes:

Suzannah Jessep – chief executive, Asia New Zealand Foundation

Dr Tracey Epps – trade law specialist

Dr Julia Macdonald – director of research and engagement, Asia New Zealand Foundation

John McKinnon – chair, New Zealand China Council

Mike Swain – visiting fellow, Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka.

Simon Watt – barrister and specialist in climate change and sustainability law

Track II Programme

The Foundation’s Track II programme supports informal diplomacy with thinktanks in Asia on issues and challenges facing the region. Our ‘informal diplomacy’ dialogues mostly have an international relations focus – with agendas touching on political, security, economy and trade. Some dialogues may have specific themes relating to other areas of shared interest – such as environment, climate change, energy or social issues, for example.

Established in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is New Zealand’s leading provider of Asia insights and experiences. Its mission is to equip New Zealanders to excel in Asia, by providing research, insights and targeted opportunities to grow their knowledge, connections and experiences across the Asia region. The Foundation’s activities cover more than 20 countries in Asia and are delivered through eight core programmes: arts, business, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, Track II diplomacy and sports.

MIL OSI

Weather News – Meteorological spring has arrived – MetService

LiveNews Publisher

September 1, 2025

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 1st – Friday 5th August – Winter wrapped up with some of the harshest winds recorded in August.

Southerly winds are ushering in cooler air, leading to frosty mornings in places.

Severe gale southwesterly winds are expected for Stewart Island today, where a Strong Wind Warning has been issued.

Strong Wind Watches are in place for Hawke’s Bay (south of Hastings), the Tararua District, Dunedin, Clutha, Southland (south of Gore), and the Chatham Islands.

Road Snowfall Warnings are in effect for Arthur’s Pass (SH73), Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road, and Milford Road (SH94) over the next two days.

Today’s weather:
The start of meteorological spring brings calmer, more settled conditions to the North Island, with mostly light showers and plenty of sunshine in the east. In contrast, the South Island woke to cloudier skies and showers, some heavy with thunderstorms and gusts up to 90 km/h on the West Coast, as a cold front moved up the island.
That front will sweep quickly up the country, followed by a second front that will prolong rain and snowfall in the South Island. Cooler southerlies trailing behind will drop overnight lows, leading to widespread frosts.

Looking ahead:
By midweek, a high-pressure system will bring more settled conditions nationwide. However, the West Coast of the South Island will continue to see rain, possibly heavy at times, persisting into Thursday, while the rest of the country stays mostly settled.
The week ahead looks mostly calm with plenty of sunshine, aside from a few light showers this evening and possibly again Tuesday afternoon.
MetService Meteorologist Kgolofelo Dube says, “This is good news for participants and supporters at the Zespri AIMS Games, which runs through to Friday 5 September in Tauranga Moana.”

Watches & Warnings (next two days):

Strong Wind Warning – Stewart Island: 11am – 6pm Monday, 1 Sept

Strong Wind Watch – Hawke’s Bay (south of Hastings) & Tararua District: 11am – midnight, Monday 1 Sept

Strong Wind Watch – Dunedin, Clutha, Southland (south of Gore): 1pm – 8pm, Monday 1 Sept

Strong Wind Watch – Chatham Islands: 5am – 10 am Tuesday, 2 Sept

Road Snowfall Warning – Arthur’s Pass (SH73): Midnight Monday – 10am Tuesday, 2 Sept

Road Snowfall Warning – Lindis Pass (SH8): 6am – 8am Tuesday, 2 Sept

Road Snowfall Warning – Crown Range Road: Midnight Monday – 9am Tuesday, 2 Sept

Road Snowfall Warning – Milford Road (SH94): 10pm Monday – 9am Tuesday, 2 Sept

Expect possible damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles. Please keep up to date with the most current information from MetService at http://bit.ly/metservicenz

MIL OSI

1...848586...1,069 Page 85 of 1,069